Try?
You've heard of the beer that made
Milwaukee famous. Saranac is the line that made Utica famous, and probably
kept the brewery alive at the same time. The F.X. Matt
brewery was a regional brewer in upstate New York for many years, surviving
on the local popularity of their Utica Club brand as well as a few others.
In the eighties they began to do contract brewing for brands like Brooklyn
and Dock Street to supplement their business by using excess capacity.
The Saranac line was an attempt by Matt to tap into the budding microbrewery movement. It has been highly successful for them, and including various seasonals encompasses almost any style you can think of. This is a great line of beers for the newcomer to the craft brewing scene, since there are quite a few beers that are more flavorful than mainstream American beers but not so bold as to scare him away. The American Pilsener is a great example of this.
Saranac American Pilsener is a "light bodied American wheat" according to the label. This is a bit confusing since this is supposed to be a pilsner. It would be better to call this a lager brewed with wheat. The beer is light golden in color with a light, fizzy head and a delicate malt nose. The palate is light bodied and crisp but there is an underlying malt character and a wheat tartness. There's also a touch of Cascade hop aromatics and Tettnang bitterness in the finish. That makes the beer quenching and refreshing, and perfect for the hot summer months.
The Saranac line was an attempt by Matt to tap into the budding microbrewery movement. It has been highly successful for them, and including various seasonals encompasses almost any style you can think of. This is a great line of beers for the newcomer to the craft brewing scene, since there are quite a few beers that are more flavorful than mainstream American beers but not so bold as to scare him away. The American Pilsener is a great example of this.
Saranac American Pilsener is a "light bodied American wheat" according to the label. This is a bit confusing since this is supposed to be a pilsner. It would be better to call this a lager brewed with wheat. The beer is light golden in color with a light, fizzy head and a delicate malt nose. The palate is light bodied and crisp but there is an underlying malt character and a wheat tartness. There's also a touch of Cascade hop aromatics and Tettnang bitterness in the finish. That makes the beer quenching and refreshing, and perfect for the hot summer months.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler
